is because there will be no Hunt for Gollum. That's so lame. To me that's one of the storylines that would make the movies connect and flow like one big piece as PJ says he wants it to be.

What gives?!?!? Davy Jones could've been Bilbo...I mean he was a Brit with a sense for adventure, singing & dancing. And think of the costs it would've save with forced perspective: he was ACTUALLY 5'3. He also hung out with a grumpy tall dude in a hat (Mike Nesmith.) While we're at it let's just have Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork as Merry & Pippin.

No Viggo is not good. The Hunt for Gollum with Aragorn and Gandalf chasing down Gollum would be great. I can't believe this storyline out of all will not see the light of day via PJ & co. Oh well. I'll edit in the indie version into PJ's trilogy when I watch. Davy Jones could've been Bilbo...I mean he was a Brit with a sense for adventure, singing & dancing. And think of the costs it would've save with forced perspective: he was ACTUALLY 5'3. He also hung out with a grumpy tall dude in a hat (Mike Nesmith.) While we're at it let's just have Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork as Merry & Pippin.

(1) Bilbo escapes Gollum. (2) Gollum goes looking for him, is caught in Mirkwood by Aragorn. (3) Gollum escapes and gets abducted by the Necromancer (4) The Necromancer gets defeated in an awesome battle at Do Guldur, flees with Gollum in his custody (4) Frodo receives the ring from Bilbo (5) Necromancer gets the truth from Gollum (6) The Black Riders are sent out....(get washed away) (7) Necromancer - we know who it is now! - allows Gollum to escape, hopefully to find Frodo and draw the Necromancer to him

I really liked the idea of The Hobbit in two parts. The first film - from the Shire to the barrels - would have been the fairy tale, the great adventure. The second film, from Laketown to the end of the book, would have been the modern tale, the one where greed and politics take over the myth. It would have resembled the different stages of the book and would have meant both films would have a unique essence.

Now with three films it seems an entire film must be made out of Smaug (plus added WC scenes) and an entire film must be made out of the Battle of Five Armies: this last film in particular sounds like the most tedious and potentially video-gamish thing conceivable. You also lose the whole flow of the novel, which replaces the element of mythological greed (the dragon) with recognisably human (dwarvish/elvish) greed in a completely effortless way.

Tone aside, this is worrying news. A whole film in Laketown and another in the Lonely Mountain just don't sound very interesting, even with the added material (which if excessive can work against the film anyway.) And the first film simply must end in Mirkwood unless it wants to be completely pointless - meeting a trio of trolls and some goblins before credits roll simply won't do.

TORN's homepage saying a revised bit of news came saying the 3rd film was not the bridge but more Hobbit, and I suppose that means non Hunt for Gollum. Which frankly, I think sucks. How can they leave that storyline alone when they want one long piece? Davy Jones could've been Bilbo...I mean he was a Brit with a sense for adventure, singing & dancing. And think of the costs it would've save with forced perspective: he was ACTUALLY 5'3. He also hung out with a grumpy tall dude in a hat (Mike Nesmith.) While we're at it let's just have Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork as Merry & Pippin.

But apparently they aren't using it. So they want to expand Bard and the Master of Laketown and invent a female elf...but they don't want to expand on Aragorn's role. BAH! EPIC FAIL! I'm pouting! Davy Jones could've been Bilbo...I mean he was a Brit with a sense for adventure, singing & dancing. And think of the costs it would've save with forced perspective: he was ACTUALLY 5'3. He also hung out with a grumpy tall dude in a hat (Mike Nesmith.) While we're at it let's just have Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork as Merry & Pippin.

of another movie of made up filler retaining Tolkiens name in the title or credits anywhere. Hopefully this does not happen but as the LOTR movies had very solid source material and were moderately loose on story adaptation and very loose on character adaptation, I cannot imagine that a filler or bridge movie that has relatively little source material will be much more than predominantly the invention of Sir PJ, Walsh and Boyens. The comments from Sir PJ about the Battle of Dol Guldur of which we have very little source tells me that they are going to invent much. There was not much of a battle according to JRRT, Sauron had laid his plans and feigned to give way before the council. He did not retreat out of neccessity but design so why would he expend too much effort into a battle.

...when they're expanding every one else' s role to the point of inventing characters. Totally lame. Davy Jones could've been Bilbo...I mean he was a Brit with a sense for adventure, singing & dancing. And think of the costs it would've save with forced perspective: he was ACTUALLY 5'3. He also hung out with a grumpy tall dude in a hat (Mike Nesmith.) While we're at it let's just have Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork as Merry & Pippin.

as the indie flick showed us. Besides what anyway? An entire film of Bo5A? I don't think I'm wrong in saying the Hunt for Gollum should be one of the first threads in line to see the light of day if they want this to be one interconnected piece as they claim. I'm still just gonna wait and watch but I was really only on board with the 3 film idea if it was fleshing the other threads-not making TH into 3 films. That's just weird that a simple quest (TH) and the grand finale (LOTR) get the same amount of screen time. Intriguing though. Davy Jones could've been Bilbo...I mean he was a Brit with a sense for adventure, singing & dancing. And think of the costs it would've save with forced perspective: he was ACTUALLY 5'3. He also hung out with a grumpy tall dude in a hat (Mike Nesmith.) While we're at it let's just have Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork as Merry & Pippin.

The hunt for Gollum is not inside the time frame of The Hobbit.
[In reply to]

Can't Post

I believe that the Hobbit(s will not deal with events (other than earlier events) later than Balin's return to Moria. Beside The Hunt for Gollum has already been done. Kangi Ska Resident Trickster & Wicked White Crebain Life is an adventure, not a contest.

This is such disappointing news. Everyone should ask themselves how they would have reacted to the notion of 3 Hobbit movies before production got rolling. I know I would have thought it was ridiculous, and I still think it's ridiculous. That is all.

if I found out they're charging us for 3 two hour films instead of 2 three hour films. What a scam that would be. More movie tickets, more showtimes and more dvds to buy! Davy Jones could've been Bilbo...I mean he was a Brit with a sense for adventure, singing & dancing. And think of the costs it would've save with forced perspective: he was ACTUALLY 5'3. He also hung out with a grumpy tall dude in a hat (Mike Nesmith.) While we're at it let's just have Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork as Merry & Pippin.

I was having a re-think as you do and for him to take off with minimum contest is quite unconvincing. The wording is he feigned to give way before them so there had to be a pretense of him needing to do so, so the White Council would not pursue him further. This allowed him the additional 10 years or whatever to build up and declare himself in Mordor. Whether the feigning involved a battle or not who knows, but there is comment of Sarumans devices (whether this means machines or stratagems who knows) driving him out so we do know some effort was expended by the White Council.

I posted something on another thread that has been overrun by this thread. I wish to repeat it here, as I feel it is important and appropriate in the context of the arguments being waged here:

"I am not the only one who went to see all three of the LoTR movies because of a love of Tolkien's stories. I expect to go to the two Hobbit films to see Tolkien's story come to life. I love Tolkiens version of Middle Earth and the goings on there. When the first movie came out, I had never heard of Peter Jackson. I went in with fear in my heart as to what he would do with the story. I fell as much in love with his portrayal of Middle Earth and the goings on there as in Tolkien's version. They are both valid. Books such as the trilogy can't be transferred to the screen exactly as written. I didn't agree with all the changes made by Jackson; but those were minor in the scope of the film trilogy. I get upset by those in here who seem to think if you love Tolkien, you must hate Jackson and if you love Jackson who are no true Tolkienite. There are many of us in this universe who think both are worthy of enjoyment and love. They can both exist in my universe and I can love and enjoy both for what each is. There is no either/or in my universe.

Can't wait to see The Hobbit on the big screen and expect to enjoy it as much as I enjoy the books."